TY - JOUR T1 - Novel antiviral properties of azithromycin in cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 428 LP - 439 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00102014 VL - 45 IS - 2 AU - Aline Schögler AU - Brigitte S. Kopf AU - Michael R. Edwards AU - Sebastian L. Johnston AU - Carmen Casaulta AU - Elisabeth Kieninger AU - Andreas Jung AU - Alexander Moeller AU - Thomas Geiser AU - Nicolas Regamey AU - Marco P. Alves Y1 - 2015/02/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/45/2/428.abstract N2 - Virus-associated pulmonary exacerbations, often associated with rhinoviruses (RVs), contribute to cystic fibrosis (CF) morbidity. Currently, there are only a few therapeutic options to treat virus-induced CF pulmonary exacerbations. The macrolide antibiotic azithromycin has antiviral properties in human bronchial epithelial cells. We investigated the potential of azithromycin to induce antiviral mechanisms in CF bronchial epithelial cells.Primary bronchial epithelial cells from CF and control children were infected with RV after azithromycin pre-treatment. Viral RNA, interferon (IFN), IFN-stimulated gene and pattern recognition receptor expression were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Live virus shedding was assessed by assaying the 50% tissue culture infective dose. Pro-inflammatory cytokine and IFN-β production were evaluated by ELISA. Cell death was investigated by flow cytometry.RV replication was increased in CF compared with control cells. Azithromycin reduced RV replication seven-fold in CF cells without inducing cell death. Furthermore, azithromycin increased RV-induced pattern recognition receptor, IFN and IFN-stimulated gene mRNA levels. While stimulating antiviral responses, azithromycin did not prevent virus-induced pro-inflammatory responses.Azithromycin pre-treatment reduces RV replication in CF bronchial epithelial cells, possibly through the amplification of the antiviral response mediated by the IFN pathway. Clinical studies are needed to elucidate the potential of azithromycin in the management and prevention of RV-induced CF pulmonary exacerbations.Azithromycin reduces rhinovirus load in CF bronchial cells, possibly through the induction of the interferon pathway http://ow.ly/BVw2U ER -